Milk and nuts ok for babies

Giving a baby bow’s milk, nuts, or other solid foods does not appear to have a detrimental effect on babies. There is no increased wheezing or eczema later on in development.

According to a new Dutch study, the advice that doctors give to wait for these foods may be unnecessary. Their results show no evidence that holding off on these foods prevents allergies later.

“There does not seem to be a need to avoid solid foods, or allergenic foods, in young children who are otherwise well,” said Dr. Scott H. Sicherer, an expert in childhood allergies at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York. He contributed to a report that retracted recommendations to withhold peanuts and other foods in an effort to fend off asthma. “This is one of a number of studies that have been pretty much giving us the same message,” he concluded.

The Dutch study tracked eczema and asthma symptoms among nearly 7,000 infants to age four. Initially it appeared as though children exposed to dairy and nuts had more wheezing, but after considering smoking among the parents and other risk factors for asthmas, the attribution to early food exposure was eliminated. In other words, it’s not diet, it’s other lifestyle issues that are contributing to the compromises in health.

Still, the American Pediatric Association recommends that babies are breastfed to age 4-6 months. And if that can’t happen, hypoallergenic formula should be used.